Live at the Lakes: Standout guards, part 2

In a continuation of our coverage of the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] Live at the Lakes tournament, Prep Girls Hoops intern Paxyn Rendahl and I spent much of the weekend watching the younger players in the gym, specifically the classes of 2029 and 2030. Yesterday we looked at seven frontcourt players who raised their game in front of college coaches from around the country. Today we'll look at those in the backcourt. Here is part 2 of our list of guards who stood out during the May live period.    A playmaker and shooter at her core, Hanson (pictured above) pushes the tempo for [program_tooltip program_id='713021' first='West' last='Central United']'s 2029 Blue squad. The 5'5 guard plays with pace, turning defense into look-ahead passes and quick transition buckets. A threat on both ends of the floor, Quinn utilizes her athleticism, mobility, and speed to get steals on the ball. On offense she is constantly engaged, creating off-ball movement, setting screens, and utilizing actions to get an open look from three. The Perham 9th grader is fast in her decision making, and consistently looks to shoot or get to the rim. Hanson shot the ball well from the perimeter at Live at the Lakes, hitting 6 shots from behind the arc over the course of the weekend.     After cracking the varsity rotation at Lakeville South this winter, McCarney is hitting her stride with the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] this spring. A glue player for the 2029 S40 squad, she consistently does whatever the team needs in order to win. Whether crashing the boards, sprinting the floor in transition, or hitting catch-and-shoot threes, Gabby brings a highly competitive spirit to each possession. Quick off the bounce, the 5'7 guard found timely buckets over the weekend. On one possession in particular, McCarney used a hesi-dribble and a burst of speed to blow by her defender, finishing with a smooth floater in the lane. Following the graduations of six of her teammates, Gabby is likely to play a big role for the Cougars in the fall.     While St. James standout [player_tooltip player_id='1353703' first='Kendall' last='Malmgren'] is the scoring engine for the [program_tooltip program_id='712699' first='Minnesota' last='Rise'] 2030 Wright squad, players like Toothaker also play a pivotal role. Ridiculously quick, fundamentally sound, and impressively strong, the 5'4 guard leaves no stone unturned. Addison is both highly skilled and aggressive on the defensive end, using her quickness to dutifully keep her opponent in front of her, not allowing them to get an open shot at the rim. On offense she likes to push the pace, often exploding off the dribble and using her shifty handle on the ball to get to the basket. When the opening isn't there, Toothaker innately reads the defense, getting the ball to a teammate with an open look.     While she's not generally the highest scoring player on the floor, Dooley does all the little things for the [program_tooltip program_id='712687' first='Minnesota' last='Fury'] 2030 UAA group. Both athletic and fundamentally sound, the Benilde-St. Margaret's 8th grader leverages her lengthy frame and quickness on the defensive end. Reagan consistently gets deflections, jumps passing lanes, and alters shots without picking up fouls. Highly active on the boards, the 5'8 shooting guard rebounds remarkably well for a player at her position. On the other end of the floor, Dooley finds most of her points out on the perimeter. She has a smooth release on her outside shot and is able to consistently hit open catch-and-shoot threes.     Nelson brings relentless energy to the defensive end for the Fury's 2030 UAA squad. The Cottage Grove guard has a feisty presence on the perimeter, constantly snagging steals and getting deflections when guarding the ball. The spirited athlete injects a burst of tempo on defense, keeping opponents under intense pressure at all times. She anticipates passes, snatches the ball, and darts toward the basket with impressive agility. When the lane closes, her sharp court vision kicks in, finding open teammates beyond the paint for quick shots. With the ball in her hands, Nelson's knack for reading the defense makes every play exciting. The 5'5 guard has a constant presence, getting herself involved in every action happening on the court.    PGH intern Paxyn Rendahl contributed to these evaluations.

In a continuation of our coverage of the Minnesota Fury Live at the Lakes tournament, Prep Girls Hoops intern Paxyn Rendahl and I spent much of the weekend watching the younger players in the gym, specifically the classes of 2029 and 2030. Yesterday we looked at seven frontcourt players who raised their game in front of college coaches from around the country. Today we'll look at those in the backcourt. Here is part 2 of our list of guards who stood out during the May live period.